During the summer of 2014 the conflict in southeast Ukraine escalated. The Ukrainian army tried to regain control of the areas previously taken over by pro-Russian militia groups. The city of Sloviansk was taken back by Ukraine. Pro-Russian fighters from the ‘freed’ areas moved to Donetsk and other places where the rebels still had control.

The Ukrainians closed in on the city of Donetsk, one of the rebel strongholds. Artillery barrages fired by both sides killed civilians caught up in the crossfire. Buildings, neighbourhoods and a high-security prison were damaged by the shelling. As fighting intensified, more people fled the area.

Meanwhile, the pro-Russian groups also tried to claim back territory. Supported by pro-Russian volunteers, soldiers, weapons and tanks from Russia, they regained control of the border areas. With both sides firmly engaged in the fighting, the conflict moved ever closer to the edge of a full-scale war.